Arts & Music Festival update

The team behind Milford’s annual music festival has announced this summer’s event will be more family-focused with a greater emphasis on promoting and supporting local and new musicians.

Under changes due to be implemented this year, live music on the village green will conclude by 10pm each night, in a bid to be more considerate to neighbours.

Milford Music Festival team said: “We wanted to look for a way to wind the festival down more gently in the evenings so there is less disturbance for local people living close to the village green.

“We have decided that we will stop the music at 10pm but the bar will stay open later for anyone who wishes to use it. We are hoping that this change will mean crowds disburse more gradually rather than leaving in large numbers.”

The festival will take place from 8th to 14th July, with this year’s theme inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Flower Power movement and the first moon landing.

Last year some festival committee members were left cleaning and tidying the village green until the early hours of the morning so this year and outside company has been brought in to operate the bar.

They said: “We really want to take the festival back to its roots of showcasing local music and being a family-friendly festival. There will be an intentional shift this year to make the festival safer, and better.” However, the new arrangements means the festival team must raise money throughout the year in order to finance the week-long event.

Plans include holding a number of festival events throughout the year, ranging from movie nights and recitals to comedy and casino nights (next is on the 18th May, tickets on sale now at the MOSCC) . “We love arts and music and wanted to promote it year-round in this wonderful village,” said the team.

“We are asking anyone who loves the festival to come along and support our events, and also to consider becoming a “friend” of the festival which gives you discounted tickets to our events and a 10% discount at many local businesses, cafes and restaurants throughout the year.” The new Friends of the Festival scheme allows supporters to pay an annual subscription of £30 or more in exchange for a discount card which can be used in shops and businesses around the village.

They said: “We need your help to make this year’s festival even better by adding venues, and reducing our impact on the green by downsizing the stage and marquee.”

There are plans to add a safe area for disabled users, fund disabled toilets and raise money for local conservation schemes.

Participating pubs and restaurants include The Wash House micro pub; The Beach House, Saltwater Cafe, Hurst on the Hill, Britannia Thai, Ray’s Italian Kitchen, Monsoori Heights and Verveine Fish Restaurant. Cardholders can also claim money off at Tu Sei Bella beauty salon, Timeless Fabrics, New Forest Paddle Sports Company, Moss on the Green and Hollands. The discount card runs until February 2020.

Nova added: “We really want to maintain the variety of the acts, and continue to present high quality music, comedy, talks and arts. Developing a core of committed friends will help us do this.”